Week 18: Rona Attack...Sorta

The Bad
So as the subject line suggests, we had a run in with covid this past week. So basically Elder Fox started not feeling well and his lungs started hurting a lot and he was just exhausted. He is an asthmatic so he just attributed it to that, but then my companion, Elder Carlson started feeling exhausted, had a runny nose and a burning in his chest. On Wednesday, him and I went to a person that him and Elder Fox went and taught a week and a half ago on exchanges (the day before I got to Nogales). Well when we got there the dad said that his whole family has covid and he is the only one vaccinated (imagínese eso). Elder Carlson figured that that is why him and Elder Fox were feeling the way they were. So we called President and he said to get tested and quarantine until further notice. It took 3 days to get the results, and they came back negative thank goodness. Those 3 days of being locked in the apartment were terrible though and was just an overall bummer. 

The Good

We had zone conference this past week on Tuesday which was super fun. I got to see Elder Mortenson and Elder Holman and my old district which was a lot of fun. I also got to see Elder Ruiz because we were combined with the East zone. Then we had just an amazing training from President about using our time wisely and how to testify with power. It was probably my favorite zone conference so far.  President is such a powerful teacher and I learned a lot learn a lot and do a super spiritual.

The good thing about being in quarantine is that I was able to study learn more than normal. I've never been a huge fan of studying but but the mission is taught me to love the scriptures so as you're really cool chance to take it and learn more about certain topics of the looked awesome but that I'm really important and sometimes hard to understand. 

Elder Carlson and I also got to spend a lot of time together in the apartment so we  Shared a lot of stories about our lives and just laughed together a lot so that was super fun we also got to do several puzzles together and so had some quality binding time a comp unity is the best.

The Beautiful

I think it is so beautiful how people are so willing to help when they see others in need. During our quarantine, several members from both of our wards called to check up on us and bring us dinner and I just think it is amazing how good people have a natural desire to help others in need. 

The Funny

So Elder Carlson is actually reassigned here and was in Ecuador for 3 weeks before covid hit. Then he spent 5 weeks in total quarantine and 4 months in the apartment as a missionary only able to leave a few times a week to do service and shopping. To say the least, he is done with covid. When we got back from the covid test, he slumped in his chair and looked at me with a tired face from across the room and said "Elder Holt, I'm going to consider it a huge win if I get dressed these next few days." (No se preocupen he did shower and get dressed every day jaja).

The Spiritual

During quarantine, I was able to finish reading Saints vol 1 which is a history of how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored and the early history of the trials if the Saints and the church. As I read and listened to it, it helped me realize the magnitude of the sacrifices of the early saints and how much faith they had. Because of their faith, the Lord delivered them in His time and His way, which always ended up being what they needed in the end. There were mobs, political contentions, dissenting members that fought the church, false allegations, death, disease, harsh weather, unjust incrimination, and it seamed like the very gates of hell were forcing their way open to attack the saints and the true and restored church of God. I read a verse this week in Alma 36 that says as members of Christ's church we must remember the bandage of our ancestors and swe the times God delivered them when they demonstrated their faith and trust in God. Of course for them in ancient times it was easy to see Moses parting the Red Sea or Joseph's story who was sold into Egypt as God delivering our ancestors, but we don't see those types of miracles very often now in day. It is also very easy to feel disconnected from the Bible accounts because we live in such a different era now, so what does it mean for us to look and see how God delivered our ancestors from bondage? I think a large part of it is seeing how the Lord guided the Saints through the commandments he gave them and seeing how He delivered them out of trial after trial. By looking to their examples, we can follow the council Alma gave to his son (and in reality to all of us) in Alma 36. 

Now the question is, how will we be the examples to those who follow us in the generations to come so that they can look back in our day to see how God delivered us out of bondage (or out of our trials) through our faith?

I encourage you all, whether member of our church or not, to read the Saints book because it will strengthen your faith. You will be able to see the hand of the Lord in the lives of His children in days past, and will learn to better recognize it in your life.

I love you all and hope you are well. Let me know what you are praying for so I too can pray with you! Remember the blessings the Lord gives you every day and you will find happiness.